National Geographic released its list of the best beaches in the world, and we are amazed by the beautiful locations. Everywhere from Australia to North Carolina is on the list. Take a look at the top beaches on the planet and plan your next dream vacation.

1. Seychelles

One of the most photographed beaches in the world, the pale pink sands of Anse Source d’Argent unfurls across the island of La Digue, one of the 115 components of this archipelago in the Indian Ocean.

The sands sparkle against a backdrop of towering granite boulders, worn by time and weather. The turquoise water is relatively shallow and protected from the ocean’s waves by a reef.

2. Maldives

Whether your dream beach trip consists of spending a few pampered nights in a four-star resort or swimming among tropical fish some 80 feet (24 meters) underwater, the Maldives are the sort of islands where either—or both—can come true.

Straddling the Equator southwest of Sri Lanka, the 1,102 islands that make up the Maldives form 26 atolls. The soft air enveloping the archipelago blends into a beautiful palm-fringed haze.

3. Bora Bora, Tahiti

This is one of the magical islands that make up French Polynesia in the South Pacific. Just 18 miles (29 kilometers) long, this lush little slip of land lies in a protected lagoon edged by white sandy shores, the best being at Matira Point. Bora Bora boasts the nickname the “Romantic Island,” a moniker easy to appreciate with its isolated beaches, intimate hotels, and quiet atmosphere.

4. The Hamptons, New York

One of the hip spots for the air-kissing, well-heeled set, the Hamptons boast some of the prettiest beaches on Long Island. The unspoiled shoreline begins around Southampton and runs east to the end of the island at Montauk. Windswept dunes and waving grasses border the Atlantic Ocean.

5. Lanikai Beach, Hawaii

Half a mile of sparkling sand, palm trees swaying over a white beach, lush tropical plants, and endless sunshine make Lanikai one of Hawaii’s most scenic beaches. The shore is protected by a nearby coral reef, which keeps the surf relatively calm. The water is always deep green and postcard-perfect.

6. Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

The most popular beaches on this island in the North Atlantic are Surfside and Children’s. The waters here are relatively calm, and there’s plenty of sand to use for sunbathing or castle-building. Madaket Beach is known for its rougher surf and not-to-be-missed sunsets. Quidnet Beach provides great views of Sankaty Head lighthouse.

7. Fraser Island, Australia

Perched on the sunny Queensland coast 161 miles (259 kilometers) northeast of Brisbane, Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island and home to a wonderful beach. This World Heritage Site is an ecologist’s dream, with 640 square miles (1,664 square kilometers) of unspoiled natural paradise.

Rain forests with 1,000-year-old trees sprout from the sand. Lodgings here accommodate a wide range of tourists, from the backpacking ecology lover to pampered resort fans.

8. St. Bart’s

One of many islands in the Caribbean Sea, St. Bart’s stands out with its blend of French chic and island relaxation. With beautiful secluded beaches, fine French cuisine, and gracious hotels, this tropical playground is popular with the Jet Set. The 8-mile-long (13-kilometer-long) island is edged by 20 beaches and small coves for swimmers and sunbathers, with sparkling water and white sand.

9. Langkawi, Malaysia

The name “Langkawi” translates into “the land of one’s wishes,” a welcoming concept that somewhat belies the island’s historic origins as a reputed refuge for pirates. Langkawi has since become a modern hideaway for the traveler seeking an escape.

If your vacation wishes extend from uncrowded white sands and clear waters to lush green forests, you will find yourself content here. Datai Bay, located on Pulau Langkawi, is a heavenly retreat on the Andaman Sea.

10. Kauna’oa Bay, Hawaii

Located on the Kohala Coast of the Aloha State’s Big Island, Kauna’oa Bay is the quintessential Hawaiian spot. The 0.25-mile-long (0.4-kilometer-long), crescent-shaped beach has plenty of white sand, palm trees, and calm, clear, blue water. In addition to swimming and sunbathing, beachgoers here can snorkel or ride boogie boards.

(Be careful swimming, however, because there are no lifeguards on this public beach.) At night, nestle into the sands and peer out into the water to see if you can catch a glimpse of manta rays swimming

Summertime is family time, right? But who wants to spend close to a day or more crammed into a car to with your loved ones just to travel somewhere else for vacation when there are awesome adventures right here in Arizona. You are discover top 10 family adventures in Arizona.

1. Chiricahua National Monument

If Dr. Seuss had dreamed a park, he would have come up with something like Chiricahua National Monument. You and your family will be constantly amazed in this 12,000-acre wonderland of ancient rock spires, caves, mountains, and lava flows.

Situated in the southeastern corner of Arizona, the monument started out with a volcanic eruption some 27 million years ago. Chiseled by the elements over the eons, the area became a rock garden of weird hoodoos and sculptures, towering up to several hundred feet.

The Apaches called it the “Land of Standing-Up Rocks”. Do they look like buildings? Stone men? Giant petrified flowers? Let your imagination go wild as you explore the park’s 17 miles of trails or take the 8-mile scenic driving tour. And stop by Faraway Ranch, a historic pioneer homestead, for a glimpse at 1880s outback life.

2. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Down on the state’s southern border, near the tiny town of Ajo, lies a parcel of land so important it has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve. That’s because it’s the only place in the United States where the organ pipe cactus grows wild. These tall cacti, some of them 150 years old, stipple a rugged landscape perfect for travel by foot, horseback, or car.

Whether you hike a backcountry trail, take a ranger-led tour to learn about the Sonoran Desert environment, venture out to see the cacti’s large white night-blooming flowers, or camp beneath a star-studded sky, you’ll come away with memories of a uniquely beautiful place.

3. Grand Canyon National Park – North Rim

Some people call the North Rim “the South Rim of 50 years ago”. Whether you’ve visited the South Rim or not, you don’t want to miss this angle onto one of the nation’s greatest natural wonders. Sure, it’s remote and harder to get to, and it’s closed in the winter. B

ut that makes your journey here all the more special. When you stand on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, far from the crowds, taking in the mind-boggling depths, the vastness of time, the subtle pinks and purples and ochres, when your mind floats like a raven on heart-lifting pillars of air, you’ll be thankful you made the effort to get here.

Take a rim or down-canyon hike to enjoy the solitude and splendor; at night, camp out or stay in the rustic Grand Canyon Lodge.

4. Navajo National Monument

Ready for some real adventure? Those who love time travel and don’t mind a bit of walking will cherish this remote monument to the ancestral Pueblo, in northern Arizona on the Navajo Nation near Kayenta. Guided hikes of three and five miles head out every morning for the Betatakin cliff dwellings, a spectacular archeological site that is remarkably preserved.

Learn about the nomadic hunter-gatherers who constructed their homes here more than 700 years ago. If you’re up for a bigger challenge, you can take on the 17-mile roundtrip hike to the Keet Seel dwellings, or venture to the even more remote Inscription House. Steep switchbacks, sandy slopes, and stream-wading are part of the adventure. Camping is free.

5. Petrified Forest National Park

Take a walk through time at Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona near Holbrook. What is now the Painted Desert was once a lush forest. But some 200 million years ago volcanic lava blanketed the region and sealed the trees, ferns, and other plants in stone.

Erosion freed the remains of the forest, now turned into huge chunks of colorful quartz. Take a trail to explore this huge spread of fossils and petrified wood, and, while you’re at it, peer into 13,000 years of human history, including the ruins of an 800-year-old, 100-room dwelling.

6. Saguaro National Park

One of the most striking emblems of the West, the giant saguaro cactus with its branching arms can grow up to 50 feet tall and live for more than 200 years. Two substantial tracts of Sonoran Desert outside Tucson preserve saguaro habitat as well as a piney mountain region that rises more than 8,000 above sea level.

Check out the visitor center museums and then go for a walk or scenic drive and immerse yourself in this picturesque land. If you’re here at sunset, you’re in for a magnificent visual treat. To really get into the picture, go backpacking—with more than 165 miles of trails, you can explore a number of different ecosystems.

7. Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Red cinders and black lava flows in the heart of this park attest to the relatively recent volcano that erupted here in northern Arizona. One thousand years ago the earth disgorged lava and poisonous gases. That violent event resulted in a sunset-hued crater rim.

Over time, life came back, and now wildflowers, pines, and aspens grow just beyond the crater, while inside cave-like lava tubes live insects, spiders, lizards, and bats. Investigate this fascinating landscape by foot or bike, take a guided walk, participate in a stargazing party, or join a campfire talk.

8. Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

Get away from it all in this immense and secluded geological treasure. With 294,000 acres of gorgeous cliffs and canyons, this unspoiled playground along Arizona’s border with Utah offers any number of opportunities for outdoor recreation and wildlife viewing.

One natural feature, the Wave, is a popular 5.2-mile roundtrip hike, for which you’ll need a permit. But even if you don’t get one, there are plenty of other breathtaking walks through the park’s cross-bedded sandstone canyons. This area boasts some of the most stirring natural scenery you’ll encounter anywhere in the United States.

9. Canyon De Chelly National Monument

The only national park not owned by the federal government, Canyon de Chelly (“de Shay”) nestles within the wild country of Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona. Take a guided or self-guided tour to views of the steep canyon walls that shelter hundred of Pueblo ruins dating from A.D. 350 to 1300.

A Navajo community still resides on the verdant canyon floor and herds sheep in the summer. Hike the 2.5-mile White House Ruins trail on your own, or get a guide to take you into restricted areas of the canyon. There’s a campground within the monument, or you can stay in a motel in nearby Chinle.

10. Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area

A patchwork of historical parks and natural areas, Yuma Crossing in southwestern Arizona is restoring the region’s wetlands and reconnecting the city of Yuma to its historic downtown.

A detachment of Spanish explorer Francisco Coronado’s expedition in search of the fabled Seven Cities of Cibola explored the Colorado River through this area in 1540. As the agricultural town grew, the wetlands declined. Now the Yuma riverfront is coming back, and you can see it happening.

Hike scenic riverside trails, paddle area backwaters, stroll the interpretive plaza, and enjoy the city’s fine restaurants and cultural offerings. In Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, learn how the bad guys of the 1800s were treated.

As western consumerism continues to spread its money making tentacles into the far corners of the globe countries that not long ago didn’t even have grocery stores are now building shopping facilities so big that they can’t even find enough vendors to fill them. These are the 10 largest shopping avenues in the world.

1. Bahnhofstrasse – Zürich, Switzerland

The Bahnhofstrasse, Zürich’s resplendent, tree-lined exclusive shopping avenue, stretches a mile (1.4 kilometers). You’ll find some of Switzerland’s top shopping along its length, from top clothing designers to high-end options for shoes, furs, accessories, china, and jewelry. And, of course, Swiss watches.

2. Rodeo Drive – Beverly Hills, California

Rodeo Drive manages to pack in enough audacious glitz to qualify as one of the world’s most glamorous and expensive shopping stretches.

Just off Rodeo lies Two Rodeo, a strip of boutiques modeled after European boutiques, with cobblestones, fountains, and bistros. Perhaps its least known amenity is the free two-hour valet parking.

3. Laugavegur – Reykjavík, Iceland

Reykjavík’s main shopping street hosts numerous clothing boutiques and an assortment of shops offering accessories, leather goods, cosmetics, lingerie, books, music, and the finest handmade knitwear and woolen goods. If you buy an outfit from one of the local fashion houses, rest assured it will be original.

4. The Ginza – Tokyo, Japan

The Ginza, comprising eight blocks, is Tokyo’s most exclusive shopping area. It boasts some of the most expensive real estate on Earth. Known luxury and exclusive retailers stand side by side with Tokyo’s landmark department stores, Mitsukoshi, Wako (whose clock is a landmark unto itself), and the 14-story Marion.

The latter actually houses seven movie theaters and two department stores. Many store windows feature elaborate displays that showcase typical Japanese culture. At night colorful neon and fluorescent lights flood the Ginza with light, bringing the otherwise gray city to life.

In December, the stores mount elaborate displays—doormen dressed as toy soldiers at FAO Schwarz, a 27-foot (8-meter) sparkling snowflake floating over the street outside Tiffany, winter wonderland scenes in Macy’s windows—that attract holiday shoppers and sightseers. Strolling the crowded sidewalks of Fifth Avenue at this time of year is a special treat.

6. Magnificent Mile – Chicago, Illinois

Just a few blocks off Lake Michigan, North Michigan Avenue is home to such shopping greats as Gucci, Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor, Brooks Brothers, and Hermes, as well as Bigsby & Kruthers, a renowned local retailer. The crowds on the Magnificent Mile can be overwhelming on weekends.

7. Avenue Montaigne – Paris, France

Avenue Montaigne, located in the “golden triangle” between the Champs Elysées and the Seine River, is the fanciest avenue in Paris.

The fashionable and the well-monied shop in the myriad luxury boutiques—Bulgari and Louis Vuitton among them—and haute-couture houses—Emmanuel Ungaro, Guy Laroche, Christian Dior, Nina Ricci, and Chanel—that lie within the avenue’s elegant buildings.

8. Avinguda Diagonal – Barcelona, Spain

Some of the finer shops are found on Passeig de Gracia, Via Augusta, Carrer de Tuset, and the exclusive Avinguda Pau Casals—small, elegant streets just off Avinguda Diagonal. You will stroll through a mix of Gothic and modern architecture. The avenue has a pick of fun and fine cafés to stop in for tapas.

Milan is a fashion paradise and center of style, with matching high price tags. In the Duomo area, Via Monte Napoleone, Via della Spiga, and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele house elegant boutiques and posh cafés inside romantic landmark Victorian buildings.

In addition to the internationally known fine fashion names, the area has inside favorites, such as La Rinascente, Milan’s most famous department store, 9 Peck, a renowned food store, and Provera, a favorite for its vintage wine selection. In the streets, there’s always a parade of well-heeled Italians casually modeling the latest fashions.

10. Bond Street – London, England

Bond Street is home to the most elegant and expensive shops in London. You will find designer clothing, perfume, art and antiques, jewelers, and more Royal Warrant holders (suppliers to the royal family) here than anywhere else in London.

Old Bond Street, the short section at the southern end of Bond Street that joins Picadilly, has been distinguished by the most posh since the 1850s. Asprey and Agnew, Sotheby’s, and Phillips, to name a few, all appear against a backdrop of elegant houses turned shops that were once home to a host of distinguished politicians, artists, and writers.

There’s no better way of getting into the fabric of a wonderful part of the world than by feeling its earth under your feet, its slopes in your legs, its sun on your skin. Ahead of you on the path is an expert guide who knows all the wildflowers and the history and has preselected the best place for the picnic, and beside you are like-minded companions, all with their own stories to tell. And you’re all looking a picture of health. Experience 10 walks & hiking tours around the World.

1. Great Smoky Mountains, U.S.

The Great Smoky Mountains, long regarded as the ancestral homeland of the Cherokee Indians, is a region rich in natural diversity and pioneer history. Named by the Cherokee for the mysterious wisps of blue-gray smoke that often shroud the highest peaks, this majestic mountain range marks the southern climax of the Appalachian chain.

Established as a national park in 1934, the area today spans a magnificent 500,000 acres (202,500 hectares), making it the largest wilderness area of the eastern United States. Within proximity of its extensive 900 miles (1,448 kilometers) of walking trails lies an abundant reserve of both natural and historic interests

. The Smokies are home to more than 130 species of trees, 1,500 varieties of flowering plants, and 200 types of birds. Nestled within this haven of cascading waterfalls and fantastic mountain vistas stand the preserved remnants of pioneer heritage: the log cabins, farmhouses, grist mills, and barns built in the 18th and 19th centuries by European settlers.

Entering into this immense and abundant forest, walkers can retrace a pioneer past that follows the footsteps first marked by the Cherokee Indians.

2. Quebec, Canada

A walking tour throughout this northern wonderland—not far from the region’s hub of Québec City—reveals natural and cultural treasures. The Saguenay Fjord estuary is a unique ecosystem where fresh water blends with sea tide, creating this journey’s special environment.

Granite cliffs plunge into the St. Lawrence River, where villages cluster by the water’s edge. There is an extensive trail network in the Saguenay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Granite peaks, brilliant lakes, high gorges, hanging waterfalls, eagles, and snow geese—all are common sights. Nearby are authentic auberge inns to relax in French Canadian comfort.

3. Cinque Terre, Italy

Imagine walking a spectacular coastal path with the Mediterranean on one side, mountains on the other, and Italian fishing villages just ahead. Now multiply that experience by five. Welcome to the captivating region linking the “five villages” of the Cinque Terre.

Footpaths cross the terraced slopes of the Riviera di Levante to hamlets with pastel-colored buildings and contrasting shutters and lead to brightly painted boats in small harbors. Walk past trattorias and a solitary abbey to a rocky promontory with the sea always in full view and a clear sky overhead.

Stop in at the Splendido hotel in Portofino.Along the route, there’s Ligurian cuisine, including characteristic Italian pesto made from locally grown basil—a source of particular pride among chefs and restaurateurs from these neighboring villages, each one claiming the best recipe.

Sciacchetrà is a rare, crisp, fragrant white wine, a specialty harvested from the Cinque Terre’s terraced vineyards. Stop in at the Splendido hotel in Portofino.

4. Cloud Forests of Costa Rica

A cloud forest is a tropical forest that’s usually found near the top of coastal mountains and is covered in clouds throughout most of the year. Walks through those of Costa Rica represent the ultimate encounters with nature’s boundless variety.

Traveling on foot, you’ll explore rugged craters and lagoon waterfalls, freshwater ponds and tranquil sea coves. Cloud forest trees tower above, and wide rivers run through lush floral lanes. One part of the adventure provides a lofty perspective on the area’s abundant natural wonders, as you cross bridges suspended high above the forest.

Brilliant colors and wild sounds create a vibrant and exotic sensory experience. You’ll find a variety of lodgings in Costa Rica to renew your enthusiasm for another day’s discoveries in this striking land.

5. Southwest Ireland

Timeworn paths invite walkers into a world of splendor and captivating legends here at the British Isles’ westernmost point. Ireland’s historic past comes alive in the southwest region, where ancient abbeys and castles stand alongside quaint country homes.

Walk the Dingle Peninsula, past stone cottages set against dramatic cliffs on one side of the route, with small islands far away to sea on the other. Discover ancient Iron Age ruins on the western tip of the peninsula at Slea Head.

Follow a path through the moss-carpeted forests in Killarney National Park. Set out by boat to explore historic Inisfallen Island on Lough Leane. Andstroll along County Kerry’s spectacular sand dunes.The walk is also rich in wildlife discoveries; you might see red deer, otter, and great crested grebe, especially around the Lakes of Killarney.

Lively pub lunches with a pint of Guinness close at hand in small farming villages offer a sweet taste of local culture. Evenings find the warm embrace of Irish hospitality at splendid village hotels—a highlight is the Cahernane Hotel in Killarney, a former estate of the Earl of Pembroke.

6. The Oregon Trail

Extending from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon, this historic trail was the way west for some 300,000 emigrants for more than 20 years from 1841. Today the trail, traversing 2,170 miles (3,492 kilometers) of road, includes 125 historic sites and many opportunities for walks and hikes.

One walking tour begins at the base of volcanic Mount Hood, along the mighty Columbia River, past waterfalls leading to spectacular mountain views and meadows filled with wildflowers. Visit the Pioneer Woman’s Grave near Government Camp, where several trails lead to other historic sites.

You can see a replica of the original toll gate that marked an alternate toll road in operation from 1846 to 1919. The Oregon Trail is also rich in the history of Native Americans, whose civilizations in this region reach back thousands of years. This environment also yields a culinary bounty; fine wines, sweet herbs, and fresh salmon all complement the splendor.

These walking days can be stretched with swims, taverna lunches, and picnics under a canopy of olive trees within full view of the Mediterranean. Crete holds the distinction of being home to Europe’s earliest civilization, the Minoan, and its legends and natural treasures run so deep that historians, archaeologists, and travelers alike continue to make bold, new finds.

From the old harbor in the fortified town of Chania, to forays into the remote southern coastal reaches of the island, and walks into the palace of King Minos, only Crete’s astonishing natural beauty could possibly rival the region’s historic importance. It is no wonder that fable and fact meet in the Greek islands.

8. Bhutan

Ancient citadels rise on the horizon. Buddhist temples and carved wood farmhouses are discovered along fertile valleys. Swiftly flowing rivers dash across an open landscape, the snowcapped Himalaya towering in the distance.

The journey in the Kingdom of Bhutan leads into the heart of a modern-day Shangri-La. Exploring temples and elegant fortresses, called dzongs, on foot helps one experience the serenity that characterizes the Bhutanese way of life.

Surrounded by gorgeous mountain vistas, paths lead to hillsides forested with rhododendron and blue pine, golden farm fields with mustard and buckwheat, and rustic villages.Travelers have only recently been allowed to visit Bhutan, and tourists to the country are still limited to a fortunate few.

There is a warmth and hospitality to experience in local culture, customs, and ceremonies. From vistas overlooking the Punakha Valley to the intricately patterned Thimphu weavings, the walk has beauty in this peaceful realm.

Lodgings in Bhutan are ideally situated for natural scenery—in a forest, overlooking a river, or perched on the rim of a valley. Local cuisine is a unique blend of unusual and piquant tastes.

9. Switzerland

Spirits soar at the sight of the alpine landscape; and what better place to walk than over breathtaking mountains. The average altitude of 4,428 feet (1,351 kilometers) exceeds many of the highest peaks elsewhere.

Venturing into two culturally distinct regions and hearing three languages along the way, you can experience variety, wilderness, and Swiss hospitality. Beginning in Kandersteg, chairlifts and gondolas take you to flower-strewn paths, pristine lakes, and waterfalls.

Look over the Lauterbrunnen Valley, framed by five summits, ancient glaciers, and mountain ranges that seem to extend forever. There is no better way to end the day than by sharing a fondue and cornichons, topped off with a bite of chocolate.

10. Nova Scotia, Canada

Dark green hills and rugged shorelines create a superb setting for walking adventures in this maritime gem. Paths lead through the heart of the spectacular Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

From Cheticamp, an Acadian fishing village famous for its music and rug-hooking, explore headland cliffs where bald eagles soar above. The Gulf of St. Lawrence is 1,000 feet (305 meters) below and leads to an expanse near North Harbour Beach, where there are opportunities to set out to sea on whale-watching tours.

Walk through fishing communities with deep Scottish roots, in isolated meadows, along craggy coasts, and on cobblestone beaches.

Some private and others public, this is simply a list of ten great courses and shouldn’t be construed as a list of the ten best in the world. Based on user reviews, authoritative rankings and professional affiliation, we’ve compiled a list of courses that we believe even the most discerning golfer would be proud to play at. List of ten of the top golf courses in the world.

1. Pine Valley Golf Club – Clementon, New Jersey

Crump/Colt (1918), Par 70—6,765 yards

Pine Valley is somewhat mysterious in golfing circles because it is hard to find and extremely private. Those who have found the club located in New Jersey’s lonesome Pine Barrens say the course is one of the world’s finest.

The founders started the club in 1913, with the purchase of 184 acres (75 hectares) of scruffy pinelands. The later addition of 416 acres (168 hectares) of picturesque virgin woodlands enhanced the remote beauty of the place.

2. Cypress Point Club – Pebble Beach, California

Mackenzie (1929), Par 72—6,536 yards

The late great duffer Bob Hope once quipped that during a membership drive at this exclusive club, they drove away 20 members. Cypress Point is indeed a private place, which explains why you won’t see casual players chipping away on the Pacific coastline.

Located south of Pebble Beach in California’s gorgeous Big Sur country, the club has an 18-hole course of rolling fairways. Dr. Alister Mackenzie, architect of Augusta National Golf Club (number 8 in this list) designed Cypress also.

3. Muirfield Village Golf Club – Gullane, Scotland, United Kingdom

T. Morris (1889), Par 71—7,221 yards

Home to the world’s oldest golfing society, Muirfield opened in 1744. More than 200 years later, Jack Nicklaus won his first British Open here on the storied greens near Edinburgh. Most golfers consider Muirfield to be a particularly demanding test of ability.

4. St. Andrews (Old Course) – St. Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom

Par 72—7,279 yards

Any golfer worth his or her weight in golf clubs wants to play the Old Course at St. Andrews, the most famous one in the world. Golf has been played on this heathery patch of land on Scotland’s east coast since the 15th century.

In addition to the Old Course, there are four more excellent 18-hole courses, one 9-hole course, and a practice center to accommodate golfers of all skill levels. All are public, but reservations are a must.

The Old Course is embedded in the stormy North Sea dunes and is challenging to even the best of golfers. For people who aren’t even pretending to be Tiger Woods, Strathtyrum Course is ideal. The nine-hole Balgove is best for children and beginners.

5. Pebble Beach Golf Links – Pebble Beach, California

Neville/Grant (1919), Par 72—6,737 yards

Pebble Beach Golf Links may be the best known course in the United States. As you work your way over the narrow fairways, make sure you pause to drink in the outstanding views of the rocky shores that make up this part of California’s Pacific coast.

There’s an especially good vista at the 18th hole, a 548 yards par 5. Since the wind can be a big factor here, be sure to select the proper club if you want to score well.

6. Royal Melbourne Golf Club – Melbourne, Australia

Located in eastern Australia, this lovely private club has two 18-hole courses, East and West. For tournaments and special members’ events, the club forms the Composite Course of 12 holes from the West and 6 from the East.

This first was created in 1959 when Royal Melbourne was the site of the Canada Cup, now called the World Cup.

7. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club – Southampton, New York

Toomey/Flynn (1931), Par 70—6,996 yards

Shinnecock Hills boasts a few notable firsts. It has the first clubhouse in the United States, built in 1893 from a design by Stanford White. It was also the first club that admitted women as members.

The rolling terrain of Long Island’s south shore gives the course plenty of variety. And winds off the Atlantic Ocean can make playing this private course quite challenging.

8. Augusta National Golf Club – Augusta, Georgia

Mackenzie/Jones (1932), Par 72—6,905 yards

Each spring, the venerable club in central Georgia is the site of the Masters, maybe the most revered tournament in the United States. Hot-pink azaleas bloom near the championship 18-hole and 9-hole courses.

Three of the sport’s toughest and most famous holes are here: the 11th, 12th, and 13th holes together are known as “Amen Corner.” Winners are easy to spot, because they are given special green blazers.

9. Pinehurst Country Club – Pinehurst, North Carolina

D. Ross (1903-35), Par 72—7,051 yards

Established in 1894 in the Sand Hills region of North Carolina, Pinehurst has eight outstanding courses and more holes than anyother resort. Course No. 1 is the most scenic and picturesque in terms of design.

However, all the courses have tree-lined fairways and numerous bunkers. Payne Stewart won the 1999 U.S. Open here with a dramatic 15-foot putt at the 18th hole. Sadly, it was his last major tournament; he died in an airplane crash that fall.

10. Royal County Down Golf Club – Newcastle, N. Ireland, United Kingdom

T. Morris (1889) Dunn/Vardon, Par 72—6,968 yards

The more than 100-year-old Royal County Down Golf Club has two 18-hole courses: the Championship and the less formidable Annesley. Located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Belfast and 90 miles (145 kilometers) from Dublin, the club is stunningly set between the mountains of Mourne and the Irish Sea.

However, it is as tough a place to play as it is beautiful to see. The fairways are lined with masses of native plants such as heather and gorse. Wild tussocks cover the bunkers. And the wind off the sea can add to the tension.

Horseback riding is one of the top ways for tourists and locals alike to feel one with nature, and see firsthand expansive landscapes and beautiful territories. If you’re planning a trip soon and want to take in the view on horseback, you’re in luck. Here are 10 of the World’s most amazing vacation destinations for horseback riding.

1. Valle de Bravo, Mexico

The ride circles the beautiful lake of Valle de Bravo. The route takes one high into the surrounding mountains, through a magnificent forest of Montezuma pines, with spectacular views of the azure lake far below. Guests stay in a lovely villa with charming hosts. The horses and tack compare well with the best European rides.

2. Masai Mara, Kenya

For sheer excitement and adventure, this ride through the Masai Mara in Kenya wins hands down. Flat-out gallops on excellent polo ponies, alongside zebras and wildebeests, past elephants, giraffes, lions, and dozens of other animals is a thrilling experience that one could never get from inside a Land Rover.

Hemingway-style camping and superb service are other pluses. Close contact with the proud Maasai in remote areas adds to the fascination.

3. Loire Valley, France

The great castles of the Loire Valley are arguably among the finest legacies history has left us. Chenonceau, Cheverny, and Chaumont are outstanding examples of the tremendous flowering of French culture of the period.

The history is brought alive by staying each night in real castles still in private hands and riding into courtyards over drawbridges like knights of old. Especially lovely: a long, wild gallop along the tree-lined banks of the Cher River heading for Chenonceau.

4. Tuscany, Italy

A ride through this stunning part of Italy is a happy combination of idyllic Tuscan landscape seen from the backs of fine horses and a chance to study some of the world’s great art treasures in Florence and Siena.

The renovated castle (Castello di Tocchi) where guests stay keeps the ancient charm while providing modern comfort. The host, who also runs a cooking school, is marvelously entertaining, and the preparation of food and choice of wine are celebrated here with near religious fervor.

5. Quebec, Canada

We often forget that Quebec is something of a foreign country within Canada itself, with a different language and culture that is basically French.

The Inn to Inn Ride on the Gaspé Peninsula on the Gulf of St. Lawrence passes through magnificent forests, skirts the seashore, and overnights in a string of inns. The fall foliage season with the blazing maples is one of nature’s wonders.

6. Jerez and Seville, Spain

Visiting a riding center near Seville in Andalusia combines excellent riding with fascinating introductions to the rich culture of this area of southern Spain.

Guests on this trip enjoy performances of some of the best flamenco dancers and visit the breathtaking show at the Royal Riding School in Jerez, which is such a tribute to the beauty and athleticism of the horse. Riders take lessons in dressage and jumping, and can also ride through the countryside.

7. Rajasthan, India

The palace-to-palace ride in Rajasthan on fine Marwari endurance horses is considered an exotic tour. The palaces themselves are impressive architectural gems. The food and service are exquisite.

8. Cappadocia, Turkey

Of all rides, the one through Cappadocia wins the prize for richest in history: Greek, Roman, early Christian, and Ottoman.

The horses perform extremely well, taking riders over fascinating terrain and through interesting villages. Part of the trip includes a stop in Istanbul, among the world’s most beautiful cities.

9. The Andes, Peru

A ride through the sacred valley of the Inca, from Cusco to Machu Picchu, on a Peruvian Paso is a haunting, spiritual experience. The dramatic setting in the Andes features sheer cliffs and lush valleys.

10. Estancia, Argentina

The horse still plays a vital role in Argentine country life; the nation has one of the world’s great equestrian traditions.

The self-sufficient Estancia Huechahue at the foothills of the Andes enables guests to see how gauchos actually live and to ride with them, providing an unusual chance to understand this powerful culture. The ranch is a base for pack trips high into the Andes.

As you know 71 percentage of our Earth surface is covered by water. From space the living planet looks blue in color because the water bodies reflects blue in light spectrum. The blue marble, photograph from NASA’s Apollo 17 spacecraft shows us the magnificent view of Earth from space. At same time our world also blessed with beautiful rivers, lakes, spectacular waterfalls, stunning glaciers and icecaps. Here are our favourite watery wonders, from the action packed to ultra-tranquil. Enjoy!

1. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe-Zambia

When the calm flowing water of the Zambezi River encounters the 5,578-foot-wide (1,700-meter-wide) edge of the Victoria Falls gorge, it abruptly plunges 328 feet (100 meters) to the bottom.

The impact generates soaring mists and thunderous sounds that can be seen and heard for great distances. During the rainy season—mid-November through late April—the falls virtually disappear behind a thick wall of mist; at other times, the water volume noticeably eases.

2. Canals of Venice, Italy

Best enjoyed outside the heat of summer, the Venetian canals and their gondolas provide one of the world’s most romantic experiences: gliding slowly down narrow palazzo-lined canals on a moonlit night. Venice is a city built on water. The canals—some 150 of them—link nearly 700 tiny islands to make what seems a floating city. Everyone must travel by foot or boat, visitors and locals alike.

The nearly two-mile-long (three-kilometer-long) Grand Canal, the main water thoroughfare, is lined by luxurious, centuries-old palazzos with ornate Renaissance-style facades and is spanned by the elaborately designed Rialto Bridge. When the distance is far, the swift vaporettos (water taxis or buses) are handy.

3. Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef stretches 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) through the Coral Sea along Australia’s northeastern coast. The reef, which in actuality is a collection of thousands of distinct coral reefs, has been designated a World Heritage site for its sheer beauty and uniquely complex and delicate ecosystem.

More than 10,000 species, including 1,500 types of fish and 200 kinds of birds, live on the reef’s cays, atolls, and islands. The beauty of the fish and coral waterscapes annually draws hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to see the spectacle by diving, snorkeling, and glass-bottom boating.

Conservationists fear that the large influx of visitors and their collateral effect on pollution are damaging the very natural wonder that people come to celebrate.

4. Li River, China

The 51-mile (83-kilometer) stretch of the Li River between Guilin and Yangshuo cities in China has inspired writers and artists for thousands of years. Here the Li River snakes through a fairy-tale landscape of conical limestone peaks, its smooth waters exquisitely mirroring the magical scenery.

The vistas are particularly enchanting when flowing mists weave themselves around the peaks, hiding them and then exposing them in moments of surprise. The mountains are vestiges of ancient eroded seabeds that support graceful bamboo groves and terraced rice paddies.

Each bend of the river reveals something new and interesting to see, from lumbering water buffalo pulling carts or cooling off in the river to fishermen gliding on narrow bamboo rafts.

5. Suez Canal, Egypt

An idea born of the British Empire’s colonial interests, the 100-mile-long (160-kilometer-long) Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. Thousands of men labored ten years (1859-69) to build this shortcut from the Mediterranean to the vast waters of Asia, and vice versa.

Without it, a cargo ship sailing from Italy to Singapore had to go around the southern tip of Africa, doubling the time and distance. Today, an endless parade of supertankers, along this blue ribbon that cuts through barren desert. If you stand back far enough from the canal banks, it appears as though the giant ships are gliding through dry desert sands in the middle of nowhere.

6. Lake Como, Italy

Thousands and thousands of years ago, glaciers carved the peaks and valley of the Alps. Those same glaciers formed the pre-Alpine lakes of the Lombard region some 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Milan.

Scenic Lake Como, with its deep blue waters, has long been known as “the looking glass of Venus.” Vistas of the lake reveal a serene scene surrounded by palatial villas, tree-clad mountains, and quaint villages. A major lake of the country, Lake Como covers 56 square miles (146 square kilometers) and reaches a depth of 1,358 feet (414 meters) between Careno and Argegno.

7. Lake Baikal, Russia

Home to 20 percent of the world’s total unfrozen freshwater reserves, Lake Baikal in southeast Siberia is the largest and oldest (25 million years old) lake in the world. At 5,578 feet (1,700 meters) it is also the deepest.

Its age and isolation have produced one of the world’s richest and most unusual environments for freshwater fauna, earning it the nickname “Galápagos of Russia.” Scientists study Lake Baikal to better understand evolutionary science. Surrounded by forested shores and the jagged and snow-clad peaks of the Barguzin Mountains, Lake Baikal presents a picture of supreme beauty.

In the winter, it freezes over with ice so thick that the Trans-Siberian Railway briefly runs trains over its surface. In the summer, its ice-cold, crystalline blue waters are transparent to a depth of 40 meters (131 feet), and colorful wildflowers bloom along its shores.

8. Nile River, Egypt

The storied past of the longest river in the world entices many people to cruise its length as it winds through Egypt. “Floating hotels,” some reminiscent of dhows, glide smoothly past timeless Egyptian life-scenes unfolding along the date-palm-dotted riverbanks.

9. Bora-Bora, South Pacific

The Polynesian island of Bora-Bora in the South Pacific is widely suggested as the world’s most beautiful island. A tropical blue lagoon ringed by coral reefs encircles the island, which is crowned by a rugged 2,385-feet-high (727-meter-high) volcano core draped with tropical foliage.

Snorkelers and skin divers love Bora-Bora for its warm waters and plentiful sea fauna. Sunbathers delight in the white-sand beaches.

10. Dead Sea, Israel

The Dead Sea, shared by Israel and Jordan, is the lowest spot on Earth. Its shoreline is about 1,300 feet (400 meters) below sea level. As the world’s saltiest large body of water, averaging a salt content six times higher than that of the ocean, it supports no life. With no outlet, the water that flows into the Dead Sea evaporates in the hot, arid air, leaving the minerals.

The Jordan River is the chief source of the incoming water, but since the 1960s much of its water has been diverted for irrigation. Its length has already shrunk by more than a third, and, while the sea will never entirely disappear, because evaporation slows down as surface area decreases and saltiness increases, the Dead Sea as we know it could become a thing of the past.

Pre-Lenten street parties are everyone's favorite excuse for a party. Just in time for the festivities, we found the most over-the-top festivals from Brazil—the global superpower of celebration—to Germany. Each destination has its own traditions for music, costumes, and cutting loose. Here are top 10 Pre-Lenten Celebrations Worldwide.

1. Mardi Gras, New Orleans

Napoleon may have sold Louisiana to the Americans, but French traditions endured, most notably Mardi Gras (Fat, or Shrove, Tuesday), the raucous Carnival that really defines New Orleans.

Beginning with a masked ball on the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6), festivities pick up steam all the way to the start of Lent, culminating in five days of parties.

2. Carnival, Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago celebrates Carnival the way it was meant to be: not a big, slick, commercial stadium show, but a party of the people—a spontaneous outpouring that plays out in flashy costumes, parades, dance shows, food festivals, and battle-of-the-steel-band competitions.

The French launched Carnival in the late 1700s as a masquerade ball for the island elite, but the event soon grew into an egalitarian street spectacle. Over the years, immigrants of all faiths have added to the hoopla, and today Carnival is a multicultural extravaganza.

3. Carnival, Martinique

It’s the devils who come marching in when Martinique revs into Carnival mode, a pre-Lenten celebration dedicated to all things mischievous. Five days of parties and processions ensue, and dressing in drag for mock weddings is the norm.

Shrove Tuesday is Red Devils Day, when red-and-black costumes are donned for a fiendish parade through the streets of Fort-de-France.

Carnival culminates with Ash Wednesday’s symbolic mourning of King Carnival, or Vaval, whose effigy arrives at a funeral pyre via a parade of floats and dancing she-devils. His death marks the end of the year’s merriment.

4. Fiesta de las Flores y las Frutas, Ecuador

Set against a backdrop of snowcapped Andes, Ambato’s Festival of Flowers and Fruits pays homage to the agricultural bounty of the region with flamboyant costumes, elaborate floats, fireworks, and lots of peach-flavored wine. On the Saturday before Lent, Mass is held outside Ambato’s whitewashed cathedral.

5. Carnival, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The world’s most famous Carnival is an extravagant four-day celebration finishing on Shrove Tuesday. One of the highlights is the lively Rio Samba Parade, taking place at the impressive 70,000-seat Sambódromo stadium.

6. Patras Carnival, Greece

A meeting of myth and reality, Patras Carnival draws its inspiration from ancient Greece––in particular, Dionysus, the god of wine. St Anthony’s Day (January 17) is the official start of a Carnival season that stretches into early March, finishing with a lavish parade and a kite-flying competition.

7. Carnevale, Venice, Italy

An event that inspired many others around the world, the flamboyant Venetian Carnevale originated in the 13th century and reached a decadent peak during the Renaissance.

Although rooted in Catholicism, the Carnival has always been a secular extravaganza, an excuse for Venetians to act out their fantasies behind the anonymity of disguise.

8. Fasching, Germany

The six-day Fasching Festival takes place all over southern Germany and is a joyous affair. Each village or district has its own unique costume and the variety is astounding—spiders and witches, animals and jesters.

The high point comes on the Monday before Ash Wednesday, when a rowdy pageant of fools is followed by an all-night Carnival ball.

9. Karneval, Cologne, Germany

The Carnival season begins on November 11 and flows all the way through winter to the eve of Lent. In Cologne alone there are more than 500 Carnival events including parades, balls, concerts, and traditional variety shows.

10. Carnival, Sitges, Spain

For one week each year, sun-splashed Sitges transforms from a sleepy beach town into a Carnival heaven. Festivities kick off on Fat Thursday with a waterfront ceremony to raise King Carnestoltes from the dead, and ends with a procession of thousands marching through the medieval quarter.

Harvest festivals are an ancient tradition found in almost every culture. They exist to celebrate the bountiful harvest that nature provides each year. Each country celebrates in its own way, but almost always, you’ll see family, friends, and neighbors gathering to give thanks as a community. These are 10 of the most interesting harvest festivals around the world.

1. Thanksgiving, Plimoth Plantation, Massachusetts

Thanksgiving, a U.S. holiday on the fourth Thursday of November, originated in the fall of 1621, when Pilgrims celebrated their successful wheat crop and overflowing store cupboards with a three-day feast.

Head to Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts to live the history of that original celebration. The hosts shared their meal of partridge, wild turkey, and fish with the Massasoit and Wampanoag Native American tribes. Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.

2. Vendimia, Mendoza, Argentina

On the final Sunday of February, the Archbishop of Mendoza sprinkles the season’s first grapes with holy water and offers the new vintage to God, setting off a month of celebrations in Argentina’s Mendoza region.

Crowds line the streets to watch a parade of competing beauty queens atop their regional floats, and the festival culminates with a spectacular show at the amphitheater—musicians, entertainers, and dancers take to the stage before a Harvest Queen is chosen amid a backdrop of spectacular fireworks.

3. Rice Harvest, Bali, Indonesia

Dewi Sri, the rice goddess, is venerated as a matter of course in Bali, where rice is the staple crop. During the harvest, villages are festooned with flags, and simple bamboo temples dedicated to the goddess are erected in the upstream, most sacred corners of the rice fields. Small dolls of rice stalks representing Dewi Sri are placed in granaries as offerings.

4. Chanthaburi Fruit Fair, Chanthaburi, Thailand

Chanthaburi, Thailand, is known for gemstones—and for its profusion of beautiful native fruits, as colorful as jewels. During the summer harvest, the annual Fruit Fair exhibits exotic durians, rambutans, longans, and mangosteens in vibrant arrangements as elaborate as Buddhist mandalas.

There are produce competitions and art displays, and the opening-day parade features floats made from thousands of tropical fruits and vegetables.

5. Sukkot, Jerusalem, Israel

Sukkot celebrates Israel’s bountiful harvests and recalls the time when the Israelites wandered the desert living in temporary shelters. Families build makeshift huts, or sukkah, with roofs open to the sky. Here they eat, and sometimes sleep, for the next seven days.

Wands of willow, myrtle, and palm, together with a citron (a kind of lemon), are shaken every day in all directions to honor the gifts from the land.

6. Blessing Of The Sea, Greece

At Epiphany, which recalls the visit of the three Wise Men to the infant Jesus, processions in Greece set off from local churches to the ocean, where a priest blesses a gold cross before hurling it into the waves. Men leap in to be first to retrieve it; the victor achieves grace, and banishes old spirits from the new year.

7. Olivagando, Magione, Italy

In Italy, Magione’s two-day festival in November celebrates both the feast day of St. Clement and the local olive harvest, bringing together everyone involved in the production of olive oil. A priest blesses the new oil at a special Mass, and the town hosts a lavish medieval dinner at its 12th-century castle.

8. Lammas Festival, United Kingdom

Lammas marks the beginning of the harvest season, when food is abundant and the light begins to wane. Early Britons baked bread from the new crop to leave on church altars, and corn dolls decorated bounteous feast tables.

9. Madeira Flower Festival, Madeira, Portugal

Funchal’s April flower festival fills the air with fragrance and marks the arrival of spring in Portugal. Each of the island’s children brings a bloom to create the colorful Muro da Esperança (Wall of Hope), and intricate flower carpets line the streets.

10. Incwala, Swaziland

In late December, Swiss men journey to the sea to gather water so Incwala can begin. Branches from the sacred lusekwane tree are woven into a bower for the king, and only when he eats the first fruit can his people partake of the harvest.

]]>https://top10besttips.com/participate-10-interesting-harvest-festivals-around-world.html/feed0Discover 10 Of The Most Sacred Caves In The Worldhttps://top10besttips.com/discover-10-sacred-caves-world.html
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Many extraordinary artifacts, mysterious undeciphered symbols and traces of unknown civilizations have been discovered hidden in ancient caves around the world. Sometimes archaeologists have come across objects that raise a number of unanswered questions about our distant past. In this top list we examine ten most sacred caves that could re-write history as we know it.

1. Actun Tunichil Muknal, Belize

In myths, journeys to the underworld are never easy, and after visiting Actun Tunichil Muknal (Cave of the Stone Sepulchre), you may feel that you have been through your own epic test.

Access to the Maya sacrificial site within the cave involves hiking, wading, and underwater swimming, but nearly a mile (1.6 kilometers) underground you will reach the resting place of the “crystal maiden,” a complete female skeleton that sparkles from eons of crystal calcification. The cave also contains Maya pottery shards, many showing the “kill hole” intended to allow spirits to escape.

2. Elephanta Caves, Gharapuri Island, India

Carved out of a hillside in the fifth century, the ecstatic faces and swaying bodies of Hindu deities in the temples of the Elephanta Caves seem to be listening to the drone of ancient Indian instruments.

The sinuous curves of the Siva Nataraja, or many-armed cosmic dancer, and the three faces of the Trimurti, representing the creator, preserver, and destroyer aspects of the god Siva, are as expressive today as centuries ago.

4. Dambulla Cave, Sri Lanka

This complex of five Buddhist cave shrines was commissioned by King Valagambahu in 1 B.C. and has been a pilgrimage site for 22 centuries. Exquisitely painted and gilded murals, as well as sculptures, shimmer in the caves; ceiling murals have been painted directly onto the rough contours of the rock.

5. Corycian Cave, Greece

In ancient Greece this vast cave on Mount Parnassus was a place of worship of the god Pan and the nymphs. A rock near the entrance may have been used as an altar.

6. Bronze-Age Minoan Caves, Crete, Greece

Crete has more than 3,000 caves, many associated with the gods of Greek mythology and with goddess worship practiced by the Minoans, a Bronze-Age civilization that lasted from 2600 to 1100 B.C. The Dikteon Cave is said to be where Rhea gave birth to Zeus; the Idaian Cave, where Rhea hid Zeus from his father, Cronus.

7. St. Paul’s Grotto, Malta

In A.D. 60, St. Paul, then a Roman prisoner, was shipwrecked on Malta and is said to have sheltered in this tiny cave. In the Bible, Acts 28 relates that Paul was treated well by the Maltese and that during his stay he performed miraculous cures and survived a viper’s bite, leading the locals to view him as a god.

8. St. Michael’s Shrine, Italy

Christian legend says that this cave shrine in Monte Sant’Angelo was chosen by the archangel Michael, who appeared to the Bishop of Sipontum in A.D. 490 and promised, “Where the rocks open widely, the sins of men may be pardoned.” It is said that Michael left an altar, a red cloth, and his footprint in stone to mark the spot.

9. Grotte de Font-de-Gaume, France

Bison, horses, and mammoths are among the animals painted into the rough limestone walls of this cave in the Dordogne. Created at least 15,000 years ago, the paintings still have vivid colors and a sense of vitality. Their purpose may have been to do with hunting or with an attempt to represent a lunar calendar.

10. Sof Omar Caves, Ethiopia

It is said that Allah revealed the opening to this limestone cave system to Sheikh Sof Omar in the 12th century. The sheikh and his followers used the caves as a mosque, a purpose to which the caves were well suited as they had been eroded into columns, buttresses, domes, vaults, and pillars—a natural architectural marvel still used as a gathering place by local Muslims.